Seay v. Service America Corp.

Julius Seay, an inmate at Dade Correctional Institute (DCI), worked in the prison kitchen. Seay was a “prep” cook for Service America Corporation (SA), a catering company. As a prep cook, Seay's job was to cut and peel vegetables, drop them into a machine hopper and guide the vegetables into the machine’s blades. The hopper has a hatch with a hinged cover. Seay claimed he was injured when, as he placed an onion into the hopper, the hatch cover improperly fell and thrust his hand into the whirling blade.

Seay’s complaint alleged SA had negligently provided and maintained the machine. SA moved…